This must be a dream.
It was Linda's first thought when she woke up in that room. Ornate furniture, spotless white walls, a carpet covering the whole floor. The whole place screamed clean, expensive and fancy—words she wouldn't use to describe her own.
Not that her room was particularly messy, but years of collecting posters, books, band merchandise turned organization into a challenge. It had its charm; a nerdy, messy, awkward type of charm, but a charm nonetheless.
But this…this makes my entire room seem like a dumpster!
The bed she was currently lying on was enough to put hers, or any other bed for that matter, to absolute shame. It was enormous, with each side draped by a canopy hanging from a curved wooden frame. The mattress was ridiculously soft, making her feel like she was resting on a cloud. Through the sheets covering her ran intricate patterns full with various details and symbols..
"Haaaaaah, the things I'd do to have something like this." She said, hugging one of the pillows beside her. "I'd stay in bed all day if I had a bed as comfy as this."
You say that as if you weren't already doing that.
A mocking voice said inside her head. Her guilty conscience, always finding a way to keep her in check. She sat upright, now conscious of her own laziness. But her embarrassment didn't last long, as her attention was caught by something beneath her sheets. A terrible discovery that sent chills down her spine.
"T-these are not my PJs!"
The teddy bear pajamas she'd put on last night had been replaced by a silk purple nightgown. She stood up, tripping onto the floor, her heart beating with accelerating pace. She wasn't panicking just because her pajamas were missing (though it did hurt as those were her favorites), but because of one strange detail she had completely missed so far.
These clothes…I can totally feel them!
And not just that. The fuzzy carpet tickling her feet, the hot sun shining on her face, the perfume fragrance in the air. All of it, she could vividly feel every one of those details. Linda had been in lucid dreams before, but this was on another level. She pinched her cheeks with so much force that it hurt her. It hurt her.
"T-this…this is no dream…."
She put her shaking hands on her head, processing what had just happened. Last night Linda's life seemed the same as usual. She ate her mom's cold dinner, listened to a couple of songs, and stayed up late reading her favorite web novels, nothing out of the ordinary.
But right before going to bed, she began thinking about the stories she loved so much. Adventures full of excitement and drama, where someone like her could take center stage. As she looked out into the boundless space, a silly idea crossed her mind.
"The fact that I'm here means…it came true. My wish came true."
Her lips curved. She leaned back on the floor and spread her arms wide, her entire body overflowing with euphoria.
"I got summoned to another world!"
***
By the age of twenty two, Linda Thorne had run out of options. Years had passed since she became an adult, and she hadn't found an answer to the important question of "what would she do for the rest of her life?", but it's not like she hadn't tried.
After all, if there was one thing to know about Linda is she only wished for one thing: To be the center of the world's attention. Ever since she was little, she had looked up to actors, singers, dancers, and those popular enough to draw large audiences.
That had motivated her into learning new skills such as singing, acting, dancing, anything that would make her stand out from the rest. However as time progressed, one problem became immediately apparent. Every time she joined a class, group, contest, or audition, there'd be someone more talented than her. Knowing she'd never be able to outshine them, she gave up her pursuit of success.
Expectations never suited you, Linda.
But none of that mattered anymore, because now she got to live out her dream in a much better way. Ever since she came across them, she had become a big fan of the transmigration genre. Stories about average girls cast aside by society, getting transported into new lives surrounded by fame, luxury and last (but definitely not least) many, many handsome men. And thanks to the blessing of a higher being, Linda's wish of living out her fantasy was now a reality.
"Hmmm, I don't know if I like any of these."
She said, browsing through a large collection of dresses. They were very well made, with a distinctive vintage look reminiscent of a historical K-drama. Still, Linda couldn't say she was a big fan of that style.
"I wonder which of these was my previous 'self's' favorite…"
That previous "her" referred to the noble woman whose life she had hijacked, although Linda preferred the term "borrowed" since she hadn't stolen it, or at least not intentionally. After all it's not like she had any say on the matter, it wasn't her fault God decided to put her in the body of an obscenely rich lady, and she wasn't going to complain either.
"But am I really in another person's body? I don't feel or look any different."
She said, staring at her reflection in the dresser's mirror. Linda couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that her appearance hadn't changed. She still had those annoying blackheads in her nose, boring brown eyes, her thick eyebrows, the dry black hair.
"Uuuugh, why, why, why, why do I look the same?! I thought reincarnating in another world meant I would look prettier! At least give me some blonde hair, or a snub nose or…"
She looked down towards her chest, her entire face blushing.
"Agh! Nothing, it's all the same! Not even an inch taller!"
She sighed, lowering her face in complete defeat. From the dresser, she picked up a brush with some powder and proceeded to do her morning routine. As expected, the dressing table had lots of different makeup, cosmetics, perfumes, and even a couple of wigs, oddly enough. What kind of job did her previous "self" do for her to require wigs? Was she some sort of performer?
"Huh? Where's the lipstick?"
She said as she searched through the items on the table. One by one she began opening and closing the drawers, each with increased frustration. Just when she was about to give up, she opened one of the bottom drawers, her jaw dropped to the floor upon seeing its insides.
"T–these are…"
Glittering like a bunch of Christmas lights, the entire box was crammed with rings, bracelets, gemstones and other types of jewelry. She grabbed an alluring pair of golden earrings, both adorned with large sapphires.
"Well, I'm not one usually to wear this sort of stuff, but if my previous 'self' did, then it'd be weird if I suddenly stopped, right? So just to be safe, I'm gonna be taking this…and this, and a couple of these, oh and that doesn't look bad…"
She indulged herself in silver-made necklaces, rings and hairpins all varying in gems.
Hmm, but this lady must really love silver, huh? There's barely anything gold in here.
After finishing the final touches, she was finally ready. For her outfit she had chosen a black and fuschia dress with a floral pattern. Even though she had gone for a more simple look, the jewelry really helped sell the image of a noble lady. She would need one of the maids to ask for assistance
However, she would need more than just appearances if she were to trick her new family. Perhaps she could ask one of the maids for assistance.
Huh, now that I think about it…I've been awake for more than an hour, so why hasn't anyone come in to check on me?
She stood still and carefully listened to her surroundings. It was quiet, eerily quiet, though it was possible the only reason she found it weird was because she was too used to the constant noises of her family.
Maybe everyone is sleeping, yeah maybe they overslept…all of them…at the same time…
Was there a chance that perhaps she had been mistaken? Maybe she wasn't a noble after all, maybe she just happened to wake up on that bed or mayb—
Stop. Use that tiny brain of yours. If this wasn't your room, then how do you explain all of the clothes and shoes being your perfect size? Even a fool like you can see that this is no mere coincidence.
That's right, there was plenty of evidence that proved this was Linda's, and her other "self's", bedroom. She stood in front of the entrance, grabbing the knobs with trembling hands. It had been a while since she felt this excited. She let out a deep breath and flung open the doors.
"Hello, family! Sorry to keep you waiting, I was ju—"
Linda's eyes widened. She froze in complete silence, her stomach twisting.
"W-what. This…this is a joke, right?"
Tall walls, riddled with cracks and moss, stretched out into a dark hallway. The floor was cluttered with scorched furniture, and a stench of rot and ash filled the air. Beyond the doors of Linda's perfect room lay the ruins of a once grand castle.